Joseph claek



(NoModeL) J. CLARK.

RAILROAD TIE.

No. 249,503. Patnted Nov. 1&1881.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY l N, Farina Plmlwlilhugmplwn mgr-m m. o, c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JosEPri CLARK, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

RAILROAD-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,503, dated November 15, 1881. Application filed October 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, J osnrn CLARK, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, h'aveinvented certain new and usefulImprovements in Railroad-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved metallic railroad-tie of simple construction to which the rails may be secured in a quick and reliable manner; and the invention consists of a channeled base-plate and of a semicircular bearing-plate which is supported on the baseplate and depressed at the points where the rails are to be supported, so as to form chairs for the rails, the bearing-plate being arranged at its inside with a fixed clamp at one side and an adjustable clamp at the other side of the rail, said clamps projecting over the base of the rail, so as to secure the same firmly to the chair of the bearing-plate.

In theaccompanyingdrawings,Figure lrepresents a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a plan view; and Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the tie.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My improved metallic railroad-tie consists of three mainparts-namely, of a channeled baseplate, of a semicircular bearing-plate, and of clamps by which the rails are secured transversely to the bearing-plate to chairs of the same. r

By referring to the drawings, A represents the base-plate, and B the semicircularbearingplate, which are both of about the length of the common wooden tie and laid in the same manner across the track. The base-plate A is provided with up wardly-extendingside flanges, a, to which the bearing-plate B is secured at the ends, and, if desired, at intermediate points, by means of screws 1). The bearing-plate B is provided at the points where the rails cross the same with depressed chairs cl, which are formed by punching parallel slits into the flat blank of the bearing-plate B and crowding or bumpin g the portion between the slits downward after the semicircular shape has been ilnparted to the bearing-plate. The chairs d which are thus formed by the depressed portions are equal in width to the base of the rails, so that they may be readily placed into position thereon. The rails are retained on the chairs by means of clamps O O, which are attached by screw-bolts e to the under side of the bearing-plate B at the highest point of the same. The clamps O 0 project over the base of the rail, the clamps 0 being rigidly applied to the ends of'the bearing-plate outside of the rails, while the clamps G are capable of adjustment by set-screws e, by which the inner clamps, O, are rigidly applied to the rails. The in-ner clamps, G, are formed atthe end of a wrought-iron bar, which extends along the under side of the bearing-plate B and is firmly bolted midway between the rails-to the same.

The bearing-plate B, instead of being extended across the entire distance between the rails, may also be made of two parts, in which case the inner clamps, O, are attached to the innermost ends of the bearing-plates by fixed bolts to be set'to the rails by the screws near the ends of the clamps.

In this manner a metallic railroad-tie of simple construction is obtained which resembles in size, shape, and natural spring the common wooden cross-tie, but which can be manufactured cheaper and is of considerably greater durability than the same.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of a flanged base-plate, semicircular bearing plate or plates having depressed chairs for the rails, and means for clamping the rails to the bearing-plate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a metallic railroad-tie, the combination, with a flanged base-plate and a semicircular bearing-plate having depressed chairs, of clamps projecting over the base of the rails, said clamps being secured to the under side of the bearing-plate,substantially as set forth;

3. In a metallic railroad-tie, the combina- 1 tion of a flanged base-plate and a semicircular bearing-plate, having depressed chairs formed in onepiece therewith, with fixed outer clamps and with inner adjustable clamps which are applied by set-screws of the bearingplate to the base of the rails, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of October, 1881.

JOSEPH CLARK. 

